Cover for garbage receptacle



July 23, 1957 J. c. WlTT 2,800,244

COVER FOR GARBAGE RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 28, 1955 INVENTOR.

Arrow/15.

I BW H Mwrzw United States Patent COVER FOR GARBAGE RECEPTACLE James C. Witt, Terrace Park, Ohio, assignor to The Witt Cornice Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 28, 1955, Serial No. 491,038

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-35) The present invention relates to garbage receptacles and is particularly directed to a cover for garbage pails, ash cans, and similar refuse containers.

The problem of providing an entirely satisfactory cover for garbage receptacles has long been recognized. A conventional garbage lid of the type which is intended to fit tightly over .a can and to be removed by grasping a handle afiixed to the lid is subject to several major disadvantages. In the first place, it is difiicult to insert refuse into the can. Frequently, after a short period of use, the lid becomes so bent or otherwise deformed that it binds on the top of the can, requiring the user to place refuse on the floor while using both hands to remove the lid. In addition, a bent lid is diflicult to replace on a garbage receptacle, and, if such a lid is not properly fitted tightly upon top of the can, there is the likelihood of rodents, flies and other disease carrying insects getting into the contents of the can. Moreover, if the garbage can lid is not carefully replaced, or does not fit properly over the top of the can, opening exists through which disagreeable odors may pass from the can into the room where the can is stored.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a lid having an opening through which material can readily be deposited in a refuse receptacle without removing the lid. The lid includes a flap adapted to automatically close over the opening as soon as the material has been deposited, thereby forming a tight seal effective to prevent the escape of any-noxiousodors from the can into the house.

More particularly, a lid constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a circular cover member adapted to fit over the top of a garbage can in a conventional manner. The cover member is provided with a central aperture through which garbage is inserted into the can. This aperture is of generally circular configuration, except for a weblike portion of the cover member which extends across a chordal segment of the opening. The opening is normally covered by a flap, or door hingedly mounted to the cover member so as to permit downward swinging movement of the flap. .In the preferred embodiment, this flap is formed of light gauge sheet metal and is provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange. This flange performs a double function in that it rigidifies the flap and, in addition, is adapted for sealing engagement with a depending rim surrounding the central opening of the lid, to prevent escape of gases through the opening.

In the preferred embodiment the flap is of the same general configuration as the central opening but is slightly larger. A chordal segment of the flap is removed and a section adjacent to the straight edge of the flap is depressed. One section of a spring hinge is joined'to the depressed area of the flap, while the other section of the hinge is fastened to the web portion of the cover member. The depressed portion of the flap performs a double function in that it greatly rigidifies the flap at the hinge mounting where the flap is most likely to bend, and in addition facilitates the mounting of the flap so that a lip formed on the straight edge of the flap extends over the adjacent portion of the web. This lip is effective to prevent a users fingers from becoming caught between the web and flap when the lid is closed.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that the lid is extremely economical to manufacture. The cover member can be stamped in a conventional manner and the generally circular opening removed by punching. The'flap is also formed in a simple stamping operation, and the lid is assembled by riveting or spot-welding the two elements of a spring hinge to the flap and cover member. The economy of the present lid is also due in a large part of'the flap construction, which while providing an extremely rigid fiap, nevertheless permits the flap to be made of a light gauge metal.

Another advantage of the present invention is that while the lid is not intended to be removed in everyday use, it can nevertheless readily be removed when required, as for example when the contents of the can are to be emptied. For, by slightly depressing the flap, a user can readily grasp the annular portion of the cover member which serves as a handle, facilitating the removal of the lid.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of a lid constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the lid with its flap in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the flap in an open position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the hinge taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

As shown a lid 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a cover member 11 including a central aperture 12 which is normally closed by flap 13 which is secured to the cover member by means of hinge 14.

. More specifically, cover 11 is formed from sheet metal which is preferably galvanized or otherwise treated to render it corrosion resistant. The cover member is of a circular configuration and includes a depending peripheral flange 15 adapted to seat upon the top of a garbage receptacle. Cover member 11 is also provided with :a generally circular opening 12 disposed centrally of the cover. A web 16 lying in the plane of the top of the cover extends across circular opening 12 covering a section of the opening outwardly of a straight line, or chord 17. The portion of cover member 11 surrounding central opening 12 is provided with a beaded rim 18. This rim not only functions as a stiffening rib for the annular cover member but also provides a smooth gripping surface facilitating the removal of the lid as explained below.

Flap 13 is preferably of substantially the same outline configuration as central opening 12 except that flap 13 is slightly larger than the opening. As best shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the flap which is formed of light gage sheet metal is of circular shape except for a chordal segment which is removed along edge 20. The periphery of flap 13 is provided with a depending outwardly facing rim 21. This rim is adapted for engagement with beaded rim 18 of the cover member.

An elongated portion 22 of the flap 13 adjacent to edge 20 is depressed; this depressed portion functions to greatly stiffen the lid and also to provide a bearing surface for hinge plate 23. The hinge plate is secured to the depressed portion of the flap by rivets 24 or by other suitable means such as spot welding. A-n overhanging lip 25 is formed between depression 21 and edge 29. This lipslants downwardly from the side of the depressed area to edge 29, which is thus disposed for abutment with web 16 when the flap is closed.

The flap and cover member are pivotallyrjoined by means of spring hinge 14 which includes plates 23 and 26 having curved portions 27 embracing pin 28. The hinge is also provided with coiled springs 3i) having arms 31 and 32 respectively engaging plates 23 and 26, these springs are effective to urge the hinge plates into a coplanar position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Plate 23 is riveted or otherwise secured to web 16, while the opposite hinge plate 26 is secured to depressed area 20.

In use, cover member 11 is firmly seated on the top of a garbage can in the usual manner. Refuse is inserted into the can by placing the refuse on the flap and pushing the flap downwardly. The flap pivots about hinge 14 until the refuse has dropped into the can, after which the flap automatically cioses under the force of springfit). As the flap closes the overhanging lip moves across the top of web 16 to prevent the users fingers from being pinched between the flap and web. Whenever required, the garbage collector can empty the receptacle by removing the cover member. This is easily done by partly depressing the flap and grasping the annular portion of the cover member. Beading 18 sufliciently stiffens the cover member so that it is not distorted by being lifted in this manner, and also provides a smooth surface for the user to grasp.

Having described my invention, I claim: a

l. A lid for garbage receptacles comprising a circular cover member provided with a depending peripheral flange adapted for engagement with the top of a garbage receptacle, said cover member having acentral opening, and a web disposed along one portion of the central opening, a flap adapted to cover said central opening, said flap having a depressed portion formed adjacent to an edge thereof, a spring hinge having a first plate secured to said depressed portion of the flange and a second plate secured to said web, said flap also including a lip disposed intermediate the depressed portion and the adjacent edge of said flap, said lip extending upwardly from said depressed portion and including a portion sloping downwardly toward said edge of said flap; whereby the edge of said lip is disposed for engagement with the web.

2. A lid for garbage receptacles comprising a circular cover member provided with a depending peripheral flange adapted for engagement with the .top of agarbage receptacle, said cover member having a central opening of generally circular shape, a web extending across a chordal segment of said opening, a flap adapted to cover said central opening, said flap being of generally circular configuration and having a segment removed along a chordal line to form a straight edge on said flap, said flap having a depressed portion formed adjacent to said edge, a spring hinge having a first plate secured to said depressed portion and having a second plate securedto said webysaid flap also including an overhanging lip disposed intermediate the depressed portion and the straight edge of said flap, said overhanging lip extending upwardly from said depressed portion and including a portion disposed to overlie said web when the cover is in the closed position.

3. A lid for garbage receptacles comprising a circular cover member provided with a depending peripheral flange adapted for engagement withthe top of a garbage receptacle, said cover member having a central opening of generally circular shape, and a beaded rim disposed about the periphery of'said opening, a web extending across a chordal segment of said opening, a flap adapted to cover said central opening, said flap being of generally circular configuration, the periphery of said flap being provided with a depending outwardly facing flange adapted for engagement with said beaded rim, saidflap having a segment removed along a chordal line to form a straight edge on said flap, said flap havinga depressed portionformed adjacent to said edge, a spring ,hinge having a first plate secured to said depressed portion and having a second plate secured to said web, said flap also including overhanging lip disposed intermediate the depressed portion and the straight edge of said flap, said overhanging lip extending upwardly from said depressed portion and including a downwardly sloping portion disposed to overlie said web when the cover is in the closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,045,004 Drummond Nov. 19, 1912 1,810,019 Jaworsky June .16, 1931 1,818,608 Chafkin Aug. 11, 1931 2,344,507 Gookin Mar. 21, 1944 2,503,031 Davidson Apr. 4, 1950 

